Process and apparatus for making panama hats.



E. VALENTE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PANAMA HATS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1916.

1,%39,U6% A Pa t entedSept. 4, 1917.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 1.

. E. VALENTE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PANAMA HATS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1916.

1,289,&. Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

42W.) MA

EDMUND VALEN'IE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Pnocnss annerrana'ros ron MAKING PANAMA ams.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EnMUNn VALnN'rn, a subject of the King of Italy, residing in the borough of Bronx, city of New Yorkycounty of New Yorlnand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Process and Apparatus for Makin Panama Hats, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

As is well known Panama and similar soft-bodyhats as ordinarily made and put upon the market have rough uneven brim edges and the brims are likely to vary in width in an irregular manner. The object of this invention is to remove these defects, which is accomplished by operating upon the brims in such manner as to compact the edges and reduce the brims to a uniform or predetermined width. The invention also comprises a novel form. of iron for use in this connection.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention:

Figure 1 is a. vertical sectional view showing a Panama or similar hat body held in a block and with the iron in place upon the brim, the latter being shown partly in its natural condition;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 1, the handles of the iron being cut off and the cloth interposed between the same and the brim torn away to show the natural uneven edge;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation showing the hat after it has been operated upon;

Fig. f is a fragmentary plan view of the brim showing the even compacted edge; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the iron.

The hat body 2 is clamped in a suitable block comprising inner and outer members 3 and 4. By this means the body is suitably supported for the ironing operation, and in particular a line of reference is established by the fixed holding of the body at the junction of the crown and brim. The body when it is thus clamped has been sized, and the brim where it is operated upon is covered by a moistened cloth, designated 5.

The brim is now worked upon with a hot iron 6, having a flat face corresponding to the width of the brim and a depending outer flange 7 grooved for the reception of the brim edge. By going around the brim with this iron, working inward upon the brim edge, the brim is held flat against puckering i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1917..

Application filedOctober 28, 1916. Serial no. 123.171. Q

and the projecting malrginzil region conipa'cted radially, so that the final result is an even line as shown in Fig. 4. The compacting thickens the brim edge to an extent, as represented in a somewhat exaggerated manner in F igl 3, so that the effect is somewhat like a thickened selvage. It will be understood that theoperation of the iron directed upon some parts more than upon others, according as one part projects more and requires more reducing than another.

lVhen the operation is completed the brim is flat and joins the crown at an angle, as shown in Fig. 3. This may be the final form of the hat, or if desired the brim may be softened to restore the original curvature seen at the left of Fig. 1.

The iron is constructed of two parts hinged together, a flat body 8 and an extension piece 9, the downward projection of which below the body forms the flange 7. A lip 10 projecting inward from the lower part of the extension piece cooperates with the bottom. of the body to form the groove wherein the brim edge is received, this groove being curved, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In order to vary the vertical width of this groove for operation upon different bodies, the hinge 11 whereby the parts are connected at the top has one of its lea ves secured to the body by screws 12, so that the leaf may be raised or lowered and one or more shims 13 inserted or removed.

A main handle 14 rises from the body, and another handle 15 extends from the extension piece through the frame of the main handle and into proximity to its grip so as to enable both to be grasped at once. The hinging of the parts permits the groove to be opened for cleaning, and the arrangement of the handles is such that when they are grasped and pressed toward each other in operation, the parts of the iron are held together as one.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An iron of the character deseribed,co1n-- prising a flat body, and an extension piece hinged thereto at one side and projecting below the body and provided with an inward projecting lip affording a curved groove for the reception of the edge of a hat brim.

2. An iron of the character described, comprising a Hat body, an extension piece hinged thereto at one side and projecting below the body and provided with an inward projecting lip affording a curved groove for the reception of the edge of a hat brim, a main handle on said body, and a supplementary handle on the hinged extension piece extending adjacent the main handle.

3. An iron of the character described, comprising a fiat body, an extension piece hinged thereto at one side and projecting below the body and provided with an inward projecting lip affording a curved groove for the reception of the edge of a hat brim, and means for varying the height of the hinged extension piece to change the width of said groove.

4. iron of the character described, comprising a flat body, an extension piece at one side thereof cooperating with the body to form a groove for the reception of the edge of a hat brim, a hinge connecting said body Copies 01' this patent may be obtained tor and extension piece at the top, and adjustment means between one of the leaves of the hinge and the part to which it is secured.

5. An iron of the character described, comprising a flat body, an'extension piece at one side thereof cooperating with the body to form a groove for the reception of the edge of a hat brim, a hinge connecting said body and extension piece at the top, a main handle on the body, and a supplementary handle on the extension piece extending into proximity to the main handley Dated October 27th, 1916.

EDMUND VALENTE.

Witnesses:

G. H. EMPEY, F. V. SHEEI-IAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

